Refrigerator door structure and latching mechanism



-Oct.9,1945. T, METER 2,386,495

REFRIGERATOR DOOR STRUCTURE AND LATCHING MECHANISM A Filed March 18, 1944 ZQShets-Sheet 1] ll 11 /2 12. 8 III! 4 8 :1 I V I4 T. NIETER REFRIGERATOR DOOR STRUCTURE AND LATCHING MECHANISM Filed March'l8, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

Patented Oct. 9, 1945 un -rep 'smrss paren or ies;

REFRIGERAETOR-DOOR STRUCTURE-D" LATCHIN G MECHANISM Temple Nieter, Racine, Wis. Application Mal-ch18, 1944; Serial No; 5274129- -15 Claims; (01. 292-33.)

The'present invention relates to" improvements in refrigerators; and more particularly to improvements indoor structures for household ree frigerators ;of "the gas-Tired or -electroi-mech'anie cal-type:

In the usual refrigerator adapted for domestic use, a one-piecedoor'structure is provided, such that the entire: refrigerating; space within the refrigerator-housing is exposed to'roomtemp erature aireach time'the door is opened, wiiththe resultthat the cold" air collected" at the bottom of the refrigeratingspaceis largely replaced by warm-air from. outsideth'e unit. This escape Of the coldair-"from the. refrigerating space repre- 7 ing compartment orto shelves disposed in the upper portion of the. refrigerating spacer Itis'an object oi'the'presentinvention,jtliere vided with an improved door. structure 'ch'aracter= izedloy the, features of'ithe present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates th'erefrigeratorshownin Figxl withthe. lower part. ofxj'the improved door 'struc'- ture in changed position;

Figs. 3, 4;, and 5' illustrate. inchan'ged "positions; the elementsi'of the improvedlatching mecha nism which is .utilized to latch the two parts-"of the door structure closeda'nd torelease'either the upper or both:iparts of this structure for opening movement;:

Fig, 5A is a 'd'et'ail'vie'w ofcertainpf theyelements provided in the latching .mech'anism Fig., dillustrates; in partially schematic form, a modifi'ed latchirigJr'ridchanism. which. may be usedto latch the two arts "or 'thed'oor structure closed and to, release either the. upper door part or bothparts for 'openingjmovement';

' Figs. 7,18 andLB'are detailwiews showing'cev tainof the elements offth'ela'tchingmechanism ofv Fig. .6 in changed position'syand V Fig. 10. isv a detail View illustrating the arrange;-

ment provided in thelatching mechanism of Fig.

fore, to provideuan. improved; refrigerator door structure; which .is; so arranged; "that v "either the upper pa'rt ornall'of the opening into. theg're'frig erating"space may 'b'e opened. selectively and'as desired.

More generally stated, it. is; an obj .ect of "the presentinventiontoprovide an improved-"multipart. refrigerator door structure which. is so at.- ran'gedth'at a: singlerlatch actuator may be. "selec tiv'ely controlled to releasefonesor all of the door parts "for movement "tor an open'positi'on.

7 According to. another object. ofth'e invention, provisions 1 are. made for automatically; locking the "door parts against: relative movement inci dentfto". operation of the latch actuator, to;re.- lease all parts of the door structure for door opening'rnovemen't; I't'is still another .obie'ctpf the present invention torprovide incomb'ination with a two-part refrigerator d iorstructure of the character described; animproved latching mechanism. which 6 'for interlocking the. two. doorparts to prevent relative movement therebetween whenth'ejlatch actuator ofthe mechanism isop erated" to re= lease both .door parts for opening ;m ovement..".

Referring now. to. the drawings, andmore par.- ticularly to Figs. l'through 5 thereof, the refrigerator there illustrated comprises the usual. hous ing. ll] h'aving'a door. opening. ll provided irr'its front wall for gaining access to the refrigerating space'indicated generally at l2 definedby'the housing... A freezin'ggunit' l3.of'the well known elecue-mechanically operated type isprovi'ded within the refrigerating space IZfor the purpose of cooling this space to the desiredlow temper ature. One .or more shelves l4 suitablysupported along the inner side walls of 'the'housing l0 may-also Ice/provided within the refrigerating space l2 for the purpose .of supporting articles and materials to be. cooled within. this space. It will.'be understood that the housing III is of entirely. conventional construction; being provided. with suitably insulated wallsfor prevent.- ing heatjcondu'ction to. the. refrigerating space I2 disposed therewithin.

-Forlthe.purpose of closing. the..d0or opening I I, a sectionalized door structure. isprovided which comprises two door parts l4 and l5pivota1lysupported upon the housing I0 'bygmeans offhinges 9. Suitable sealing, strips of conventional design are provided around the inwardly tapering door receiving surfaces of the opening. H for Sealing engagement with the correspondingly tapered edge surfaces of the doors I4 and I5 in order to prevent air transmission from the refrigerating space I2 to the exterior of the refrigerator or vice versa, when the door parts I4 and I5 are closed. In this regard it is noted that the engaging edge surfaces Ma and I5a of the two door parts I4 and I5 are interlockingly tapered so that movement of the upper door part I4 toward its closed position will similarly move the lower door part I5. Also, suitable sealing strips are provided between the engaging edge wall surfaces Ma and I541 for the purpose of minimizing heat transmission from outside of the refrigerator to the refrigerating space I2 therewithin. Each of the two door parts I4 and I5 is of the usual construction employing spaced inner and outer walls having a suitable heat insulating material confined therebetween for the purpose of preventing heat transmission therethrough.

As best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the mechanism for releasably locking the door parts I4 and I5 closed comprises latches IS and IBa individual to these door parts and re spectively extending through fitting openings provided at the front edges of the twoidentified door parts to enter suitable latch receiving recesses 8 and 8a provided at spaced points alon the left side of the door opening I I. At the rear ends thereof, the latches I6 and Ifia are respectively provided with guide rods I9 and I to. These rods are slidably received within fitting openings through supporting plates 2t and 2011 which are rigidly mounted between the front and rear walls of the door parts I4 and I5, respectively. Coil springs 2I and 2 Ia telescoped over the guide rods the axis of the actuator shaft 26 by journaling f this shaft within a suitable bearing piece rigidly mounted uponthe inner side of the front wall of the door I4. At its projecting end, the shaft 26 carries an actuator. handle'I which may be utilized to pivot this shaft and the parts 22, 23 and 24 carried thereby in either direction. The two spaced pins 23 and, which are rigidly mounted upon the spacing. piece 22 carried by the shaft 26, normally engage ears I1 and I8 formed integral with the, latch I6. to limit the forward movement of the latch I6 and thus hold the spring 2| under tension. With this arrangement, it will be apparent that when the connected actuator parts are pivoted-in either direction away from the normal positions thereof as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the latch I6 will. be moved to its retracted-or door release position. A similar latch actuating mechan sm comprising the correspondingly numbered parts 22a, 23a, 24a, 2611, Ho and I8ais provided for limiting the forward movement of the latch Via and for retracting this latch to its door release setting. It is noted, however, that the shaft 26a does not. extend through the front wall of the door I5, but is journaled within a hidden bearing member supported at the inner side of the front wall of the door I5.

For the purpose of actuating the latch Ilia to its door release setting in response to pivotal movement of the handle I in one direction away from its illustrated normal position, a one-way motion transmitting mechanism comprising the two longitudinally movable rods 21 and 33 is provided to interconnect the two latch actuator parts 22 and 22a. More specifically, the part 22 includes a rearwardly extending leg which engages the upper end of the rod 27 and is provided with a rounded camming surface adjacent the free end thereof adapted for sliding movement over the upper end of the rod 21 when the part 22 is pivoted in one direction. This rod is slidably supported by means of mounting pieces 28 and 29, which are supported between the walls of the door I4, and is held in an elevated position with the upper end thereof in engagement with the leg 25 of the part 22 by means of a biasing spring 3|. The identified spring is maintained under tension between the mounting piece 29 and a small plate 30 fixedly mounted upon the rod 21 at the upper end thereof. This plate, through its engagement with the upper mounting piece 28, acts as a stop to limit upward movement of the rod 21. The lower end of the identified rod is adapted to be projected through aligned openings 32 and 38 respectively provided in the edge .walls Ida and [5a of the two door parts It and I5 to engage the upper end of the rod 33. The latter rod is slidably supported by a pair of mounting pieces 34 and 35, which are rigidly supported between the edge walls of the door I5, and is provided with a lower end which rests upon the upper surface of a leg 25a formed integral with and extending rearwardly from the latch actuator piece 22a. It is held in an elevated position, such that the upper end thereof is normally disposed just below the opening 38, by means of a biasing spring 37 which is confined between the mounting piece 35 and a stop plate 36 rigidly'supported upon the rod adjacent the upper end thereon Thus the plate 36, as tensioned against the mounting piece .34, acts to limit upward movement of the rod 33.

In order to lock the two door parts I4 and I5 together as they are opened in unison, a latching bar 6 is provided which is slidably supported by supporting plates 26a and 29a anchored between the front and rear walls of the door I4, and is provided with a camming end 6a biased to engage the tapering front edge of the door opening by means of a spring 60. This bar is provided with a slot 61) within which the rod 21 is received and having a straight rear edge which is adapted to enter a slot 2111 provided at the upper end of the rod 21 when this rod is pushed down to actuate the latch IBa.

v Briefly to consider the operation of the described latching mechanism, it will be understood that when both door parts I4 and I5 are closed the latches I6 and I6a are engaged with the latch receiving recesses 8 and 8a, and the latching bar 6 is retracted so that the rod 21 is free to slide through the slot 617. Under these circumstances, the door opening II is tightly sealed by the two door parts to prevent cool air leakage and to prevent heat from entering the refrigerating space I2 within the housing II]. If it is desired to open only the upper door part I4 for the purpose of gaining access to the freezing unit I3 or to articles supported by the shelf I4, the handle I is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction to move the latch actuator part 22 to the position illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Incident to the resulting pivotal movement of the connected parts 26, 22, 23, and 24, the last mentioned part engages the ear I8 of the latch I6 to retractsaidrlatch .to. its v:door releasesetting against movement the latch .16 is momentarily retracted I.thdgbiaslofthespringl'l. Alsoduringsuchmoveand-then returned to-its latching setting'under nieiit' ofthe identified latch. actuator parts, the .rtheainfluence of thespringll. -Also during-the 15in'23..isrmovedawayfrom the ear l1 .and. the .finalclosing movement of the two --door-parts, 'Ilglfilismovedraway fromthe upper'endo'f the --5 the latching bar B-is retracted to disengage the rodTZT. Thus the. latch 16-. is retractedto its rear edge ofthe slot 6b from the'slot 21a. Thus, .Tdoonrjlease setting withoutdisturbing the enthe actuator part i22afand the rods-27 and .33 are agementofethe latchtfia with .thelatchreceivreleased for return to their respective normal pow..ing.recess"i8a. Accordingly, the. door @partI Lmay s'itions-under theinfluence ofthe biasing springs "be movedto its open position independently of 013 .31 -and Ila. Following the release of the .the door,par't l5 ,hyrsimplyspulling upon the-hanidentified .parts, the latch lGa is free toenter lilefl. With=the lower door part I5- c1osed, the the recess 8a, thereby to latch the door part I5 .coldiaircollected inwtheibottomaof the rfriger- Closed. v

.atings'pac lli .is preventedfromspillin out of From'fthe aboveexplanationtit willbe clearly .this space-toiproduce a-correspondingenergy.loss l5 understoodithat bysimply actuating the-handle inthepperation of the ,fBeeZing unit [3. :After "Tineither of twodirectionsaway from itsnormal the'door part [4 has been opened, the 'handle 1 .p ti ither the upper-door'part .1 4 @or both mayobviously be released, thus permitting the doorparts may be selectively-unlatched:for openlatchlS .toareturn to its latchin-gpOsition-under .ing movement,. and that when both door parts .the.=influence.of .theloiasing spring 2|. During ?0 are nnlatched they .are interlocked to ,prevent such .return.movementofthe latch-l6,-the acturelative .movement therebetween. These-same ..ator,parts .23, .24,-22,"25 and-.2-6 are returned to operatingieatures alsocharacterize themodified their respective normal positions. Thereafter latching mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6 and when the .doorpart M .is closed, the latch [-throughlO ofthedrawings. In-brief,-the modi- 'l fiis obviously retracted-to itsdoor release 'set- 25 fied latching .mechanisms there illustrated-comvting and is thenforcedintoathe:latch receiving .prise two latches -39 and39a individual to the recess-Blunder theinfluence of-the spring 2|. two door parts l4 and 15, a pivoted actuating During such-movement ofrthe latch I 6, theset- .handle indicatedrgenerally at -6, latch actuating .tingspfthe actuator-parts2, 13, 2-4, 25, andifi .parts 58 and 58a individual to the latches- 3 9zand ..are-Inot disturbed. W301 3 9a,-and.a. one-waymotion transmittinglinkage ."Ifit.is-desiredtoobtainaccesseto articles-diseomprisingthe tworodsfiii andfil interconnect- I posed in.-the:1ower;-.part.oftherefrigerating space ing the two latch actuating parts 58 and 50a.

.l2, it-.is necessary-toopen-bothzofthe-door parts More-specificallvthe latch 39 is slidably supllleand [5. To .this .end, the :handlelis pivoted .ported.withinafittingopening through thefront in a clockwise dirction-tmmove-the elementsof lifinedge vwall of the door .part [4, and is provided the latching mechanism to the positions -illus- ,with.atailtshaft dfl which islikewiseslidably suptratedtinaFigwi -of thedrawings. Incident t0 .,ported withinanopening-througha supporting Lsuchactuation otthehandle-1,-the-actuator.pin .piece 41 mounted hetweenthe front'and-rear .23 engages .the latch fear. tmretractthe-latch .wallsef. thefloor pa,1't,-|.4 A biasing sprjng dz .IG-andthus release-.thefdoor'part 4-4. Also inci- --.-w .t 1 Over th .t haft .40 and tensioned dent t0 the clockwise-movement 0f theactuator betweenthe supporting pieced! andthe enlarged part 22, the leg 25 thereof engages the .upperrend portion -of the-latch .39 is utilized .to bias this ,,of..therod .21-tomove this rod'andthe aligned Ilatch toward its latching setting. The-actuator -rod 33.downwardlyagainstthe bias afforded by part-Evll-ismadeupof two opposed andisuitably the D gSM3I and -31. -As-the' rod -33 s interconnected conical pieces which :are rigidly .moved dOWI1W 3,I d,- the :s1ot..21a:.is brought into .mounbed upon the .uppepend of. the :IOd .53 and y t o t e-l g bar .are 'disposed-within .a slot 43 out through the slot-"61 an th c rl i n a s t e r latch-39. Taperingsurfaces 44 and'45, conform- Ha. to retract the latch.l.6a...to. itsdoor release jngjneontour t0..,fihe.s1anting id surfaeesjl settingagainstthe.biaslof-the spring 2la. Thus a .52. of t .t m pieces are ,provided ,.th ..door..part '|5-'.is .also released .for movement .in-theJatch 39-ar0und' the-slotAB to provide for "toan pen p tio uring-the.downward.move ,camming action between the-two-.parts--39 and nientbftherodl'ZL thelowerend thereof .passes ta the pa,rt 501 moved up .or down; i thr u h the'aligned.op n sflband 38 .in .the -this regard it ispointedout that the lVldth of d e Walls 4 and id-t y tointere ""..the slot--43.is on1y slightly .less. thanthelargest lock theltwo door partsagainst relative mover terof the conical pieces making ..t -me'ntly, henthehandle. 1 is pulled, vactuator part BB, thereby to .permit thedesired both doorsparts are opened in .unison. As the cammingaction to be produced. Themounting "doo pa l4 p t e latching 'bar' Bs'lides .arrangementfor-the latch-39a, the structuralarforward so thatlthe rear edge of the slot =6b-.en- .-rangement of the latch actuator .part 597a and "teIS the S101} 21111 01317011 .the .IOdS- Z1 and .33 in the arrangementof the surfaces provided in the "th w w p i Th s t rod-2111s --latch 39a to coast withthis actuator part are held y a hing'barfiiina position for-lockidentical with those-described abovein-reference ng et O ip Ha d et er to-the latch39. Accordingly, corresponding refthe 'door opening I l has'beenthus fullyuncoverence numerals .havelbeen utilized to identify eredgthe handle 'lmay be ea p ttingafl .eorrespondingparts and surfaces of thetwolatch parts Ofthe upper latch n fi hi to r u n assemblies. -.It is noted, howeventhat the latch to normal under the .restoringinfluenceof the .actuating-Dartfiilais rigidlymountedupon.the

pringllzl- During such release ofthis'lat ching lower end of the rod 6! in order that it may be .mechanism, the interlocking connectio-n provided 0 wproperl-ypositioned ioractuation of the latchetea.

.byLrthe rodl'l betweenthetwodoorparts is ob- Mountingpieces-.54 and55supportedbetween the vviously maintained-by the latching bar 6. -Ac- =.-.f-ront:and rear wallsrof'thedoor .part .!4.are.uticordingly thesetwo partsmay-be closed in'unilized slidably to-support --the-ro,d.53. Similarly,

son -byisimplypushing upon theupper.-,door part "r zmountin-g piecesefl and v-i53-.-supported in. spaced 7 M. During the :final portion 30f such clos ng" apa rtrelation-between thefront +andrear walls Fig. 9 of the drawings.

of the door l5 are utilized slidably to support the rod 6|. Aligned openings 51 and 58 are provided in the engaging edge walls Ma and 15a of the two door parts [4 and 15 to permit the lower tapered end 56 of the rod 53 normally to project through the edge walls to engage the recessed upper end 64 of the rod 6|. If desired, an apertured striking plate 51a may be provided along the top edge of the door part I5 in the manner shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings to receive the pointed end of the rod 53.

In order to raise and lower the actuator part 50 to produce the camming action referred to above, the handle 46 is pivotally supported by means of a pivot pin 4? upon the front wall of the door [4 at the inner side thereof, and is provided with a forked end 49 having tines 48a and 491) which respectively overlie the upper and lower surfaces of the identified actuator part. Rounded camming surfaces are formed at the inner sides of the forked tines 49a and 49b to facilitate sliding engagement of the tines with the upper and lower surfaces of the actuating part 55, The handle includes an actuating portion which extends through a slot, not shown, in the front wall of the door part I4 and carries a finger ring 48 at the projecting end thereof. This finger ring is provided with an inner hump 48a which is useful in providing a touch indication of the positions along the finger ring where force should be applied in order to open the upper or both door parts.

Briefly to consider the operation of the described modified latching mechanism, it will be understood that normally the springs 62 and 42a serve to maintain the latches 39 and 38a interposed within the latch recesses 8 and 8a, and the lower end of the rod 53 projects through the aligned openings 51 and 53. In order to retract the latch 39 to its door release setting, the finger ring 48 is pulled down topivot the forked end 49 of the handle 46 upward, thereby to move the actuating part 55 to the position illustrated in Incident to such movement of the part 50, the surface 52 of this part coacts with the engaging surface 45 surrounding the slot 50 at the rear end of the latch 39 to move this latch to the right into its door release setting. Also incident to the upward movement of the actuator part 50, the rod 53 connected with this part is withdrawn upwardly through the aligned openings 51 and 58, thereby to unlock the two door parts 14 and I5 from each other. After the door part I4 has thus been unlatched and opened, the handle 46 may be released, permitting the four parts 39, 46, 5E), and 53 to be returned to their respective normal positions under the influence of the biasing spring 42. When the door part [4 is subsequently closed, the latch 39 is momentarily retracted to its door release setting, following which it is forced into the latch receiving recess 8 through the action of the spring 42. During such movement of the latch 39 the lower pointed end of the rod 53 engages the striking plate 57a and is moved upward until it is realigned with the openings 51 and 58, following which it is extended through these openings, to relock the two door parts against relative movement.

When it is desired concurrently to move both latches 39 and 39a to their door release settings, the finger ring 48 is raised to pivot the handle 46 in a direction opposite that required for upper door operation, thereby to move the actuator part 50 to the position illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings. Incident to this movement of the part 50 the camming surface 5| thereof coacts with the engaging rear portion of the surface 44 to retract the latch 39 to its door release setting, Also incident to the downward movement of the two connected parts 50 and 53, the lower end of the latter part is further projected through the aligned openings 51 and 58 in the door edge walls [4a and 15a to move the rod 6| downwardly therewith, thereby to actuate the part 50a substantially to the position illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings. During movement of the actuator part 50a to this position the camming surface em thereof coacts with, the camming surface 44a of the latch 39a to move this latch to its door release setting against the bias of the spring 42a. 7

Thus both of the latches 39 and 39a are concurrently retracted to their respective door release settings and the two door parts are interlocked to prevent relative movement therebetween. After these two door parts have been opened, the handle 46 may be released, permitting the two latches and the associated actuating mechanism to be restored to normal under the influence of the springs 42 and 42a. With these two latches in their normal positions, the two door parts are interlocked against relative movement by the rod 53. Accordingly, the ma be closed in unison by simply pushing upon either door part. Here again, the two latches 39 and 39a are momentarily retracted without actuation of the latch actuation mechanism incident to movement of the respective associated door parts l4 and I5 to their respective closed positions.

While two embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will'be understood that various modifications may be made therein which are within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator which includes a housing defining an internal refrigerating space provided with an open doorway, a sectionalized door comprising relatively movable upper and lower parts hinged to said housing to close and open different parts of said doorway, latching means individual to said door parts for respectively latching said door parts closed, a latch actuator carried by one of said door parts and movable in either of two directions away from a normal position, means responsive to operation of said actuator in either of said two directions for unlatching the latching means individual to the upper door part, and means responsive to operation of said actuator in a predetermined one of said two directions for unlatching the latching means individual to the lower door part.

2. In a refrigerator which includes a housing defining an internal refrigerating space provided with an open doorway, a sectionalized door cornprising relatively movable upper and lower parts hinged to said housing to close and open different parts of said doorway, latching means individual to said door parts for respectivel latching said door parts closed, a latch actuator carried by the upper door part and movable in either of two directions away from a normal position, means responsive to operation of said actuator in either of said two directions for unlatching the latching means individual to the upper door part, means responsive to operation of said actuator in a predetermined one of said two directions for unlatching the latching means individual tof the lower door part, andmeans for inter; locking saidtwo door iparts to prevent relative m vem nt therebetween inresponse to operation of said actuatorin said one direction. I

3. In. a refrigerator which includesa housing defining an internal cooling space provided with an opendoorway, a sectionalized door ,compns-' ing 'relatively movable u per and lower parts hingedly carried by saidhousing'to close and opendifierent partsxo'f said doorway, latching m n in ua to sa ido r P ts for r sp ctively latching said door :parts ,closed, a-single latch: actuator, and means selectively controllableby movement of saidlatch actuator in different directions for selectively actuating sai'd latching means-to unlatchone or both of said o r s r 4,. In a refrigerator which includes a housin defining an internal cooling space provided with anopen doorway,a sectionalized door comprising relatively movable upper and lower parts hingedly carried by said. housingtoclose and, open different parts of said doorway,'latching means individual to said door parts for respectively latching said door parts closed, ,a latch actuator, means-selectively controllablexby said latch actuatogr for selectively actuating said latching means to unlatch one or both of said ldoor parts, and means included in said-last named means for locking said door parts against relative movement when both of said ;door parts-are unlatched.

5. m a-refrigerator which includes a housing defining an internalrefri erating space provided with an open doorway,-relatively movable upper and'lower doors hinged to saidhousing to close and Op n different parts of said" doorway, latches individual to said doors for respectively latching said doors closed, operating means individual' tosai d latches for'actuating said latches to their respective unlatched positions, a latch actuator movable in either of two directions away from a normalposition to actuate one of-sa-id latch" operating means, and one-way motion transmitting means connecting said latch operating means to actuate the other of said latch operating means in response to movement of sai latch actuator in a predetermined one of said two directions away from said normal position.

6. In a refrigerator which includes a housing defining an internal refrigerating space provided with an open doorway, relatively movable upper and lower doors hinged to said housing to close and open different parts of said doorway, latches individual to said doors for respectively latching said doors closed, operating means individual to said latches for actuating said latches to their respective unlatched positions, a latch actuator movable in either of two directionsaway from a normal position to actuate one of said latch operating means, one-way motion transmitting means connecting said latch operating means to actuate the other of said latch operating means in response to movement of said latch actuator in a predetermined one of said two directions away from said normal position, and means included in said motion transmitting means for locking said doors against relative movement when said motion transmitting means is operated to actuate said other latch operating means.

7. In a refrigerator which includes a housing defining an internal refrigerating space provided with an open doorway, relatively movable upper and lower doors hinged to said housing to close and open different parts of said doorway, latches individual to said doors for respectively latching said doors closed, latch actuating means indi vidual to said latches for actuating said latches t their respectiVe unlatchedpositions, a latch actuatorcarried bysaid uppe door and pivotally movable in either of two directions, away from a normal position-to actuate the latch'actuating means individual to said upper door, and oneway rnotion transmitting, means connecting said latch operating means to actuate the latch actuating means individual to said lower door in response-to movement of said latch actuator in a predetermined one of said two directions away from: said normal position.

*8. In a refrigerator which includes a housing defining an internal refrigerating space provided with ano'pendoorway, relativel movable upper and'lower doors'hinged to said housing to close and open different parts of saiddoorway, latches individual to said doorsjfor respectively iat'ching, saiddoors closed, latch actuating means individual to said latches for actuating saidlatches to their respective" unlatched positions, a latch actuator'carried bysaid upper-door and'pivotally movable in either of twodirections away from a normal {positionto actuate the latch actuating means individualto said upper door, one-way mot-ion transmitting means connecting said latch operating means to actuate thelatch actuating means individual tosaidlower door in response to movement of said latch actuator ina predetermined one of said-two directions away'from said normal position, "and means included in said motion transmittingmeans for locking-said doors against relative movement when said-Inotion transmitting means is operated to actuate the latch actuating means individual to said lower door.

9. In a refrigerator which includes a housing defining an internal cooling space provided with an open doorway, -a sectionalized door comprising relatively movable upper and lower parts hingedly carried 'Joy said housing to close and open. different parts of said doorway, latching means individual to said door parts for respectively latching said door parts closed, a latch actuator, means selectively controllable by said latch actuator for selectively actuating said latching means to unlatch one or both of said door parts, and means normally locking said door parts against relative movement and controlled by said latch actuator to release said door parts for relative movement when said latch actuator is operated to unlatch said one door part.

10. In a refrigerator which includes a housing defining an internal refrigerating space provided with an open doorway, relatively movable upper and lower doors hinged to said housing to close and open different parts of said doorway, latches individual to said doors for respectively latching said doors closed, latch actuating means individual to said latches for actuating said latches to their respective unlatched positions, a latch actuator carried by said upper door and pivotally movable in either of two directions away from a normal position to actuate the latch actuating means individual to said upper door, one-Way motion transmittingmeans connecting said latch operating means to actuate the latch actuating means individual to said lower door in response to movement of said latch actuator in a predetermined one of said two directions away from said normal position, and means included in said motion transmitting means for normally locking said doors against relative movement and responsive to operation of said actuator in one of said two directions to release said doors for relative movement.

11. In a refrigerator which includes a housing defining an internal cooling space provided with an open doorway, a sectionalized door comprising relatively movable upper and lower parts hingedly carried by said housing to close and open different parts of said doorway, latching means individual to said door parts for respectively latching said door parts closed, latch actuating means for selectively actuating said latching means to unlatch one or both of said door parts, and means for preventing relative movement between said door parts when both of said door parts are unlatched.

12. In a refrigerator which includes a housing defining an internal cooling space provided'with an open doorway, a sectionalized door comprising relatively movable upper and lower door parts hingedly carried by said housing to close and open different parts of said doorway, latching means individual to said door parts for respectively latching said door parts closed, a latch actuator, and means selectively controllable by said latch actuator for selectively actuating said latching means to unlatch one or both of said door parts and for locking said door parts against relative movement in response to operation of said latch actuator to unlatch both of said door parts.

13. In a refrigerator which includes a housing defining an internal cooling space provided with an open doorway, a sectionalized door comprising relatively movable upper and lower door parts hingedly carried by said housing to close and open different parts of said doorway, latching means individual to said door parts for respectively latching said door parts closed, a latch actuator, means selectively controllable by said latch actuator for selectively actuating said latching means to unlatch one or both of said door parts, and means including a part of said last-named means for locking said door parts against relative movement in response to operation of said latch actuator to unlatch both of said door partsv and openin movement of said door parts and for releasing said door parts for relative movement in response to subsequent closing movement of said door parts. 1

14. In a refrigerator which includes a housing defining an internal refrigerating space provided with an open doorway, relatively movable upper and lower door parts hinged to said housing to close and open different parts of said doorway, latches individual tosaid door parts for-respectively latching said door parts closed, latch actuating means individual to said latches for actuating said latches to their respective unlatched positions, a latch actuator movable in either of two directions away from a normal position to actuate the latch actuating means individual to one of 'said door parts, one-way motion transmitting means connectin said latch actuating means to actuate the latch actuating means individual to the other door part in response to movement of said latch actuator in a predetermined one of said two directions away from said normal position, and means responsive to opening movement of said door parts for latching said motion transmitting means in an elf normal setting wherein said door parts are locked against relative movement and responsive to closing movement of said door parts to release said motion transmitting means.

15. In a refrigerator which includes a housing defining an internal refrigerating space provided with an open doorway, relatively movable upper and lower door parts hinged to said housing to close and open different parts of said doorway, latches individual to said door parts for respectively latching said door parts closed, common means for concurrently actuating said latches to unlatchboth of said door parts, and means controlled by said last-named means for locking said door parts against relative movement when unlatched.

TEMPLE NIETER. 

